Graham Walker

Heavyweight Champion Of The World hitmakers Reverend and the Makers dedicated their chart hit to the late Muhammad Ali at Sheffield's 'last' Mosborough Music Festival.

The Sheffield indie stars headlined the annual Sheffield festival on the day the world mourned the passing of 'The Greatest' sporting icon of all time.

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The Ali tribute was one of many knockout highlights at an emotional last ever festival on the site, which will make way for a new housing estate - though boss Steve Cowen says he isn't throwing the towel in. He's moving it to Don Valley Bowl next year,

The Rev, frontman Jon McClure, said dedicating Heavyweight Champion Of The World wasn't to be a somber affair but a celebration of the life of his 'childhood hero'

He started the song with Ali's most famous quote which got the respectful crowd bouncing, as he shouted: "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee - the hands can't hit what the eye's can't see...RIP Muhammad Ali."

Backstage Jon explained "So many greats are dying - I was a Prince fan, a big Bowie fan. But sincerely, genuinely, Muhammad Ali was my childhood hero. I absolutely loved him. So we dedicated Heavyweight Champion Of The World to him tonight.

"But we're doing the tribute with a smile. That's how he approached life. He use to have a laugh with his little raps or rhymes, goading the likes of George Foreman in Zaire. That's the way to be. A good fella. I wish I had met him."

Also playing, at the Friday night and all day Saturday event, were Marquis Drive, Dirty Sterling, The Velcro Teddy Bears, The Shanklins, Phat Bollard, Tom Hingley, Bongo &amp; the Soul Jar, Maybelleen, The Jackobins, Reasons to be Cheerful, James Lamb and Malarkey Affair.

Festival boss Steve said it was an emotional day and he had been holding back tears on more than one occasion, especially as the last notes played out on Saturday, bringing an end to the festival on the site after six years.

He had fond memories of previous performers including Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, who played their first gig there together after splitting from The Beautiful South, also Bad Manners, The Selector, The Farm, Twang, Lucy Spraggan, The Sherlocks and in 2013, Reverend and the Makers - who returned this year.

He's still planning to call it the Mosborough Music Festival - at least for now - when he takes it closer to Sheffield city centre next year, on a bigger capacity events ground at the back of Sheffield Arena and iceSheffield.

He believes fans already identify closely with it by name and calling it anything else could be detrimental to his plans.

Music fans go large at the 'last' Mosborough Music Festival. Photo: Glenn Ashley.

He said: "I've been very emotional. We've so many happy memories, brilliant bands, a fantastic atmosphere here for families and lots of charity work. But they are building on here so we've got to move on. But we're going to continue. We're not throwing the towel in. We're moving out but we're going to keep the name. We're just want to pick Mosborough up and plonk it closer to Sheffield."